‘Low pay key contributor of corruption in Gambia’—Minority leader

The Gambian president earns $43, 257 annual salary with a dollar rate at D47

Minority leader of Gambia’s national assembly, Samba Jallow

Samba Jallow, a member of the parliamentary body that scrutinizes public officials and institutions, Public Accounts and Public Enterprise Committee, said the topmost motivator of corruption in Gambia is low pay.

Gambia has no minimum wages and even though President Adama Barrow promised to enact a law to that effect, he hasn’t close to two years of his administration.

“Low salary affects even the functions of the National Assembly as an institution that ensure public monies are well spent… Underpayment opens one to bribery… The salary is very low…,” Jallow told Kerr Fatou at his office.

“Low salary scale is one of the key triggers of corruption in the civil and public service in The Gambia…”

In March 2017, the Gambian leader has promised his government will do anything within their means to increase salaries of government workers.

However, the government could only increase transport allowances, an adjustment that some economist say was ill-advised given the weaker economic growth the country experienced in the past five years.

“What national assembly member gets in Senegal is times higher than what we get in Gambia. Even Guinea Bissau’s national assembly member can pay Gambia’s national assembly member more than two times,” Jallow said.

Meanwhile, debate over government wages on social media has started last week after Barrow announced he was donating 10% of his salary to the implementation of his development.

According to the country’s 2018 budget, Barrow earns 2, 040, 000 per annum, ten percent of which is 204, 000.

The minority leader said $43, 257 annual salary with a dollar rate at D47 dalasi for the president is too small given the responsibility he shoulders.

And between the president and the vice president is a huge disparity.

The vice president earns an annual salary of 562, 116 which is a monthly salary of D46, 843. With a dollar to dalasi rate at D47, this is a monthly salary of $993, 27 cents.

The secretary general and head of civil service earns D29, 333 monthly.